The Criterion Collection

[ShellOilJunior]

I'm going through my collection for 2nd views.

SECRET OF THE GRAIN is really an excellent release that doesn't get talked about much. Hafsia Herzi steals nearly every scene she's in

[Monty70]

I just watched Harakiri. The film is a devastating introspective examination of Samurai culture, and I was surprised at how relevant parts of the plot still are in the 21st century. Nakadai's performance was sublime, I have never seen him in anything else that approaches this level.

A film that is as brutal as it is beautiful.

[g.schweet]

Originally Posted by KubrickFan

Not if the other released the better version. The company that releases theirs first might also have to work with source material that's not up to par, compared to a later release. At least it would be giving consumers the choice, instead of making it for them. I'm glad my BD player is region free, but I'm sure there are countless people who are frustrated because of the region locking.

No offense, but that is a pretty lame hypothetical, since both companies have had great blu-ray releases up to this point (with nothing indicating this trend won't continue). Improvements of the transfers would be very minor at best, and I think most people wouldn't buy the same film again on blu-ray for an extra supplement or two.

And the frustration and complaining of region locking is dumb, since there are options to get around it.

[Icemouth]

Originally Posted by KubrickFan

Not if the other released the better version. The company that releases theirs first might also have to work with source material that's not up to par, compared to a later release. At least it would be giving consumers the choice, instead of making it for them. I'm glad my BD player is region free, but I'm sure there are countless people who are frustrated because of the region locking.

You're assuming that people won't buy the first version in order to wait however long until the second one comes out, then compare both, then make a decision.

First very clearly has the advantage. But regardless, the majority of people aren't going to import a title that's coming out in their region anyway. Actually the majority of people won't import, period.

[Darkcritic]

Another hint from Criterion:


Talk to Her by Pedro Almodovar ? I seriously cannot wait to see what it turns out to be.

[Brad1963]

Title Details Title Il momento della verità (1965)
Runtime 1 hr. 47 min.
Director Francesco Rosi
Country Italy, Spain
Studio Criterion Collection
Genres Drama
Description; Miguel, a poor young man living in Franco's Spain becomes a bull fighter to escape starvation.


I posted this a few weeks ago. It is The Moment of Truth (Il momento della verità). This is directly from the Criterion Hulu webpage.

[WhoIsTylerDurden]

Originally Posted by Darkcritic

Another hint from Criterion:


Talk to Her by Pedro Almodovar ? I seriously cannot wait to see what it turns out to be.

Looks more like "Matador" to me. I think Criterion hinted at it one of their e-mails.

[madmojo]

So I'm trying to decide which 5 Criterions I should buy in the November sale.

I'm thinking right now about Island of Lost Souls, Yi Yi, Still Walking, Harakiri, and Secret Sunshine. (I'll get Fanny and Alexander during the sale no matter what.) Do those sound like good choices?

[Darkcritic]

Originally Posted by Brad1963

Title Details Title Il momento della verità (1965)
Runtime 1 hr. 47 min.
Director Francesco Rosi
Country Italy, Spain
Studio Criterion Collection
Genres Drama
Description; Miguel, a poor young man living in Franco's Spain becomes a bull fighter to escape starvation.


I posted this a few weeks ago. It is The Moment of Truth (Il momento della verità). This is directly from the Criterion Hulu webpage. It is NOT Talk To Her.

Yeah, it seems other people say that too over the facebook page . To be honest, I am really dissapointed, for once I thought Criterion would give us some Almodovar. Well, c'est la vie, I guess.

[Brad1963]

Originally Posted by Darkcritic

Yeah, it seems other people say that too over the facebook page . To be honest, I am really dissapointed for once I thought Criterion would give us some Almodovar. Well, c'est la vie, I guess.

Trust me. I'd love to have Criterion Almodovar. He is one of my all time favorites. But when I saw this a few weeks ago on the Hulu page I pretty much gave up the idea of it being Matador or Talk to Her.

On another note; Bitter Rice and Eating Raoul are amongst the newly added Criterion Hulu titles.

[Brad1963]

I'm changing my guess from a couple days ago:
Il momento della verità
Belle de Jour
Gojira
Le Samouraï (one of these days I will be right.)
Drunken Angel
Stray Dog
Tiny Furniture

To these:

Il momento della verità
Belle de Jour
Gojira
Le Samouraï (one of these days I will be right.)
Bitter Rice
Eating Raoul
Tiny Furniture

[Tin Drum]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

I'm going through my collection for 2nd views.

SECRET OF THE GRAIN is really an excellent release that doesn't get talked about much. Hafsia Herzi steals nearly every scene she's in

I talked about it!

It really is an excellent film that just flew by. I could have watched another two and half hours of these people and their lives.

The final act - wow, truly riveting.

[fdm]

Originally Posted by Darkcritic

Yeah, it seems other people say that too over the facebook page . To be honest, I am really dissapointed, for once I thought Criterion would give us some Almodovar. Well, c'est la vie, I guess.

Did see speculation that it might be Y Tu Mamá También, but it's been too long ago for me to remember one way or the other whether there were any matador scenes in it. (The speculation was allegedly based on somebody checking their dvd copy.) I'm more inclined to go with the majority, Il momento della verità.

[Zen_Amako]

All I know is I need the Three Colors Trilogy in November. Money is tight right now, but I'll find a way to pick that up somehow.

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by Brad1963

I'm changing my guess from a couple days ago:
Il momento della verità
Belle de Jour
Gojira
Le Samouraï (one of these days I will be right.)
Drunken Angel
Stray Dog
Tiny Furniture

To these:

Il momento della verità
Belle de Jour
Gojira
Le Samouraï (one of these days I will be right.)
Bitter Rice
Eating Raoul
Tiny Furniture

World on a Wire or no deal.

[madmojo]

Originally Posted by Roninblues

I haven't received my pre-order for Island yet or Harakiri (though I do have Rockin' C's DVD) but I do own and like the rest of your choices. It appears you're an Asian Film Fan.

Yeah, I tend to like character driven films more than plot based ones these days, and the asians seem to do those best.

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by SpiderBaby

Island of Lost Souls Review

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film3/blu-r...ls_blu-ray.htm

I've never seen this.
Wondering if I should blind-buy this in November...

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by drbikeshorts

I've never seen this.
Wondering if I should blind-buy this in November...

I would.

[oildude]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

I'm going through my collection for 2nd views.

SECRET OF THE GRAIN is really an excellent release that doesn't get talked about much. Hafsia Herzi steals nearly every scene she's in

I agree totally. The Secret of the Grain is one of my favorites, and like Still Walking, it was a huge surprise for me to discover this little gem. I have written about it a few times in the past months.

I really appreciate its textures. On the surface, it is about an older first generation immigrant man who, having become "unprofitable" at a struggling shipyard, is let go after many years and has to find a new purpose for his life so late in the game.

But beneath the surface are multiple story threads revealing a range of overt and subtle themes. To me, the main underlying theme concerns the decay and loss of traditional community values of second and third generation immigrant youth as told through the family dynamic of the older man. It is the love of his girlfriend's daughter that gives the film its hope and promise of redemption. The last half hour is mesmerizing and suspenseful in a way that I did not expect.

Intertwined with this theme is a damning look at the elitism of French civil servants and the condescending bureaucracy to which the man must subject himself in order to realize his dream for a new start.

I have rewatched it several times. Along with a powerful story and terrific acting, I think it is one of the most strikingly colorful and beautifully shot movies in the Criterion Collection. This film was made to be seen on blu-ray.

[oildude]

Originally Posted by madmojo

So I'm trying to decide which 5 Criterions I should buy in the November sale.

I'm thinking right now about Island of Lost Souls, Yi Yi, Still Walking, Harakiri, and Secret Sunshine. (I'll get Fanny and Alexander during the sale no matter what.) Do those sound like good choices?

I will put in a big YES for Still Walking. It is one of my most re-watched Criterions. I think the film is brilliant: that it can take such a low-key approach to a slice of everyday life - the gathering of an extended Japanese family, their interactions over several meals, interwoven with interpersonal tensions, quiet demons, and modern vs. traditional cultural themes - and make a totally compelling and identifiable story out of it for a non-Japanese audience.